hurlbrink



Dec. 17, 1929. E. HURLBRINK' 1,740,306

APPARATUS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING LIQUID FUELS Filed June 15, 1928 2Sheets-Sheer. 1

1210672 for ErnsZ-HurZrz nk;

,B has e422 I Dec. 17, 1929. E. HURLBRINK 1,740,306

APPARATUS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING LIQUID FUELS Filed June 13, 1928QSheets-Slgeet 2 w v r $5 5 s I I| I l l i 5; W i i--70 I II I II I {I:l n x H l [I :1 ll I 1705 v? I" 40-\j i F: I 50 g la up/221% M 9Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNST HURLIBRINK, FBERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FIRM MARTINI 8a H'U'NEKEMASCHINENBAU-AKTIEN-GESELLSGHAFT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY I APPARATUS FORSTORING AND DISPENSING LIQUID FUELS Application filed June 13, 1928,Seriall'o.

My invention relates to an apparatus forstoring and dispensing gasoline,benzol and other liquid fuels and more particularly to an apparatus bywhich the liquid to be dispensed is driven out of a storing tank byintroducing a heavier liquid such as water under pressure into the tankand in which both the conduit for introducing and discharging thefuel'and the conduit for introducing and I discharging thewater isprovided in the interior of the tank with a float actuated valve throughwhich the fuel conduit is automati-' cally closed as soon as thecontacting plane between the twoliquids has reached a predeterminedupper level whilst the wafer eonduit is automatically closed as soon asthe contacting plane between the-two liquids has reached a predeterminedlower level.

The float actuated valves used heretofore have the disadvantage that theclosing of the conduits only takes place little by little within alonger period just as the contacting plane between the two liquids risesor sinks in the relativelylarge tank, so that it is very uncertain atwhich point of time the valve is really closed. Therefore when using theknown regulating means it is necessary that the floats are alreadyoperative at a level of the contacting plane which is relatively farfrom the orifices of the fuel conduit and the water conduit, so that thevolume of the tank is badly utilized. This disadvantage is stillincreased by the fact that the vertical length of the floats must berelatively large for effecting a sufiicient buoyancy of the floats andcorrespondingly a tight closing ofthe valves. The main object of myinvention is to avoid the said disadvantages by lodging the floats inrelatively small chambers which are open on one side and adapted to bealternatively filled with water and with gasoline whereby thesubstitution of the one liquid by the other. takes place within'a verysmall period in a chamber as soonas the contacting plane be- .tween thetwo liquids reaches the respective chamber. A further object of myinvention is that floats of a larger vertical length may be'used so thata safe closing of the valve 50 is efi'ected and the volume of the tankis well 285,083, and in- Germany June 18, 1927.

utilized. Further objectsof my invention will appear hereinafter.

Preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in theaccompanying draws lugs.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a part of a storage tank providedwith the improved automatic valve closing means.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in section of a float and valveunit provided in the upper part of the storage tank.

Fig. 3 isa side elevation with parts in section of a float and valveunit provided in the lower partof the storage tank, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through unit shown in Fig. 2.

According to Fig. lot the drawings 1 is a tank with which two pipes orconduits 2 and 12 are communicating. The pipe 2 serves for'the supply ofwater under'pressure and extends to the lower part of the tank. The

orifice 3 of the pipe 2 forms a valve seat which is open on its upperside. Above said orifice a chamber 4 is arranged having the sha e of aninverted pot which is corresponding y open on its lower side. Thechamber 4 is connected with the pipe 2 by means of bridges 4. The upperwall 6 of the chamber forms a return valve which allows liquid to flowout but not to enter into the chamber at its upper side. The valve 6 iscovered by a hood-9 which limits the stroke of the valve and preventsany substance being suspended in the liquid to be deposited on thevalve. In the chamber 4 the float 7 is lodged which is guided by meansof lateral projections 7 on the walls of the chamber and which carriesthe valve cone 8 cooperating with the valve seat 3.

- The orifice of the fuel pipe 12 communicates with the upper part ofthe tank 1 and forms a valve seat 13 opening downwardly. The cooperatingvalve 18 is connected with a float 17 whichis guided in the same way. asthe float 'Zin a chamber 14 whichis' connected by means of bridges 14with thewater pipe 2. The chamber 14 is open onits upper side at 15 andclosed on its lower si e by means of a bottom 20. The rim of the bottomis bent upwards and forms in connection with a flange 21 of the chamber14 a ring shaped valve seat with which a ring shaped valve 16 cooperateswhich allows liquid to flow out of the chamber butprevents liquid fromentering into the chamber at its lowerside. The valve 16 is encased byan extension 19 of the wall of the chamber to prevent soiling of thevalve. The specific weight of each of the float aggregates including thefloat proper, the valve and the valve spindle is smaller than that ofwater but larger than that of gasoline or another lighter liquid.

The working of the apparatus is as following:

According to theworking state illustrated in the drawing half of thecontents of the tank lconsists of fuel A and the other half of water B,sothat the contacting plane 10 of the two liquids lies approximately inthe-middle of the tank. The lower chamber 4 is com pletely filled withwater, the float 7 is raised and the valve 8 is opened, whilst the upperchamber 14 is completely filled up with gasoline. The float 17 is in itslower position andthe valve 18 is also opened.

- As soon as gasoline is introduced into the tank througf I the .pipe 12the contacting plane 10 will sin and by a pressing-action water will beejected through the pipe 2. As long as the contacting plane of the twoliquids does not reach the edge 5 of the chamber 4, the said chamberremainsfilled with water, and the float 7 is accordingly raised and thevalve 8 open. But as soon as the contacting, plane sinks below the edge5 of the chamber 4- the water falls out of the chamber which is filledup .with gasoline at once. The float 7 moves downwards-immediately, andthe orifice 3 of the conduit 2 is closed by the valve 8 so that adischarge'of gasoline through this conduit is impossible.

' I As soon as gasoline is taken from the tank through the pipe 12 byintroducing into thetank .waterunder pressure" through the pipe 2, thecontacting plane will be raised. The rising water may flow into thechamber/1 from below, asthe rising return valve 6 allows the gasolinetoflow out. In correspondence thereof the float 7 is raised and the'val-ve8 opened. As far as the contacting plane reaches the lower part of thechamber 14 this does not affect theexisting "conditions as thereturn-valve 16 does not allow water to flow into the chamber which isfilled with gasoline,

sothat the float 17 remains in its lower position. But as soon as thecontacting plane has pipe 12 closed by-the valve 18. The furtherdischarge of gasoline is interrupted and a drawing oil of the waterrendered impossible.

' When the tank is newly filled up with gasoline the contacting plane 10will sink below the chamber 14 from which the water grad-- ually flowsout as the return valve 16 does not ofl'er resistance to such flowing.

In Figs. 2-4 details of preferred float and .fioats and 170 respectivelyand also the pipe 2 with which the said chambers may be connected bysoldering. The'floats are guided on the interior surface of thecylinders 40 and 140 respectively and onthe exterior surface of the pipe2* and also on the edges of ledges 70" and 170 respectively which arearranged in pairs and project in a radial direction from the wallstowards the axis of the cylinders. The cylinder 40 is open on its lowerside, and the cylinder 140 is open on its upper side.

The return valve of the upper chamber (Fig. 2) is not immediatelyadjacent to the bottom 20 of the chamber, as shown in Fig.

1, but provided on the free end of a bent pipe 24 projecting from thebottom 20 and communicating with the i terior of the cylinder. The valveseat consists in a bushing 21"'which is screwed into the upwardlyextending free end of the bent pipe 24, the said bushing being providedwitlrthree, upwardly extend ng flaps 22 to which a hood 90 is fastenedWlllOh prevents the valve from being soiled. The.

hood is fastened to the flaps by means of screws 23 which also serve forlimiting the stroke of the'valve 16 which consists of a thin and lightdisc of sheet metal for the reason of minimizing the quantity ofgasoline remaining below the valve when filling the tank with water.

The return valve for the lower chamber 40 ma be of a constructioncorresponding with t wt of Fig. 2. In this case the valve is alsoarranged to open upwards and preferably the valve should be provided ona reduced extension projecting upwardly from the upper wall 40 of thechamber 40. v

Instead of a return valve an orifice of small diameter such as abore-hole 60 (Fig.

3) -may be provided in the upper part of the wall of the chamber 40,such orificeconnecting the interior of thetank 1 with the upper part ofthe interior of the chamber 40. The proper working of the lower floatunit provided with said bore-hole depends on the followingworking'conditions:

Whenfilling up the storage tank with gasoline the corresponding sinkingof the contacting plane between the gasoline andthe water takes placequickly and without interruptions, whilst the rising of'the contactingplane occurs at intervals due to the dispensing of only smalleruantities of asoline through a continuous rawing off an due to longerperiods existing between the several dispensing operations. As soon asthe sinking contacting plane has passed the bore 60, gasoline entersinto the chamber 40. But

, as the bore is of a small diameter the said entering is so slow thatafter the contacting plane has reached the lower edge 50 of the chamberthe latter is to a greater extent still filled with water so that thefloat 70 is still in its upper position. But as soon as the contactingplane passes the edge 50 the water falls out of the chamber 40 so thatthe valve is suddenly closed. The effect is practically the same as witha return valve. When the contacting plane is rising it may occur thatthe entering of the water into the chamber from below is retarded incomparison with the rising of the contacting plane, as the flowing outof the gasoline through the small bore cannot take place with acorresponding velocity.- But this is unobjectionable as in the periodsbetween the several dispensing operations the difference in the levelsis compensated and an immediate rising of the float is not ofimportance.

The bore 60 instead of a return valve may only be used for the lowerfloat and valve unit in view of the periods between theseveraldispensing operations and the possibility of compensation-"within suchperiods. With the bore 60 the construction is much simplified. This isalso the case with the other features-shown in the Figs. 2 to 4,especially with the structure of the float chambers, the means forguiding the floats and especially with the floats proper. Floatsconsisting of bottles of glass are simple and cheap and always airandwater-tight which is'of great importance for a constant and reliablefunction of the floats.

The invention is not limited to the storing and dispensing of gasolineor similar liquid conduit for a lighter liquid, communicating with theupper end of thetank, a valve for closing each of said conduits, a floatfor actuating each of said valves an upper chamber and a lower chamber,for enclosing said floats, said upper chamber being open at the upperend thereof and provided with an outwardly opening check valve at theclosed lower end thereof and said lower chamber being open at the lowerend thereof and provided with an outwardly opening check valve at theclosed upper end thereof, whereby the heavier liquid may reach the upperend of the upper chamber and said lighter liquid may reach the-lower endof said lower chamber before said conduits are closed by said valves,thereb utilizing to the utmost the capacity of sai tank.

2. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavier liquidconduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit of alighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, a valvefor closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing said floats,said upper chamber being open at the upper end thereof and provided atthe lower end thereof with a means for preventing the ingress andpermitting the outflow of liquid therethrough, and said lower chamberbeing open at thebottom thereof and provided at the upper end thereofwith a means for preventing the ingress and permitting the outflow ofliquid therethrough, whereby the heavier liquid may reach the upper endof said upper chamber and said lighter liquid may reach the lower end ofsaid lower chamber before said conduits are closed by said valves,thereby utilizing to the utmost the capacity of said tank.

3. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavier liquidconduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit for alighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, a valvefor closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing said floats,said upper chamber being'open at the upper end thereof and provided witha means for causing the enclosed float to actuate its valve by theoverflow of the heavier liquid over the upper end of said up or chamberthereinto, and said lower cham er being open at the lower end thereofand provided with a means for causing the enclosed float to actuate itsvalve by the underflow of the lighter liquid under the lower' end ofsaid lower chamber thereinto, whereby the heavier liquid may, reach theupper .end of said upper chamber and said li hter liquid may reach thelower end of sai lower chamber before said conduits are closed by saidvalves, thereby utiliz ing to the utmost the capacity of said tank.

4:- In a li uid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicatin with the lower end thereof, a conduit for alighter liquid, communicating with the up er end of said tank, a valvefor closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating the valve atsaid upper conduit, a chamber for enclosing said float, said chamberbeing open at the upper end thereof and provided with a means forcausing said float to actuate said valve by the overflow of the heavierliquid over the upper end of said chamber thereinto,

whereby the heavier liquid may reach the upper end of said upperchamber, before said upper conduit is closed by its valve, therebyutilizing to a greater extent the capacity of said tank. I

5. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavier liquidconduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit for alighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, a valvefor closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating the valve atsaid heavier liquid conduit,

a chamber for enclosing said float, said chamt ber being open at thelowerend thereof and provided witha means for causing said float toactuate said valve by the underflow of said lighter liquid under thelower end of said chamber thereinto, whereby said lighter liquid mayreach the lower end of said chamber before said heavier liquid conduitis closed by said valve, thereby utilizing to a greater extent thecapacity of said tank.

6. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavier liquidconduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit for alighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, a valvefor closing the upper end of said tank, a valve for 0105- each of saidconduits, a float for actuating the valve at said heavier liquidconduit, a chamber for enclosing said float, said chamber being open atthe lower end thereof and provided with an outwardlyopening check valveat the closed upper end thereof, whereby said lighter liquid may reachthe lower end of said. chamber before said heavier liquid conduit isclosed by said valve, thereby utilizing to a greater extent the capacityof said tank,

anda hood positioned at the upper end of said chamber over said checkvalve, to limit the stroke thereof. and to preventsolids, which may besuspended in the liquids, from interfering with the action of said checkvalve.

' 7. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, aiheavierliquid conduit, communicating with thelower end thereof, a, con duit fora lighter liquid, communicating with ing each of said conduits, a floatfor actuating the valve at said upper conduit, a chamber for enclosingsaid float, said chamber being open at the upper end thereof andprovided at thejclosed lower-end thereof with an outwardly opening checkvalve, whereby the heavier liquid may reach the upper end I duit for alighter liquid communicating with the top of the tank, a valve forclosing each of said conduits, a float for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing said floats,an opening in said upper chamber and an outwardly opening check valve atthe lower end thereof,

an opening in said lower chamber and an out-.

wardiy opening check valveat the upper end thereof, whereby the heavierliquid may reach the opening in said upper chamber and said lighterliquid may reach the opening in sa1d lower chamber before said conduitsare closed by said valves, thereby utilizing to a greater extent thecapacity of said tank.

9. In aliquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavier liquidconduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit for alighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, a valvefor closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating the valve ofsaid heavier liquid conduit, a

chamber for enclosing said float, an opening in said chamber and anoutwardly opening check valve at theclosed upper end of said chamber,whereby said lighter liquid may reach said opening before said heavierliquid conduit is closed by its valve, thereby utilizing to a greaterextent thec'apacity of said tank.

10. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus, a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit fora lighter. liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, avalve for clos ng each of. said conduits,'a float for actuating thevalve at said up'pereonduit, a chamber for enclosing said float, anopening in said chamber and an outwardly opening check valve at theclosed lower end, of said chamber, whereby the heavier liquid may reachsa1d opening before said upper conduit IS QlOSGCI by its valve, therebyutilizlng to agreater extent the capacity of said tank.

11."In a liquid storing and dlspens ng apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a con- I duitfor a lighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank,a'valve, for closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating eachof said valves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing saidfloats, one or more of said chambers being secured to said heavierliquid conduit, thereby supporting said chambers in position in saidtank.

12. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank; a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit fora lighter liquid, communicating with the upperend of said tank, a valvefor closing each of said conduits, a float, for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber anda lower chamber, for enclosing said floatsone or more of said chambers being secured to said heavier liquidconduit, thereby supporting said chambers in position, and said heavierliquid conduit extending through one or more of said chambers, toassistdn guiding said floats therein.

13. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit for alighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said'tank, a valve,for closing each of said conduits, a float for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber. for enclosing said floats,said upper chamber being open at the upper end thereof and provided atthe closed lower .end thereof with a bent pipe of reduced size,

in communication therewii h, said pipe terminating in an outwardly opning check valve, whereby the heavier liquid ma rem-h above the open endof said upper chamber before the conduit of said lighlcd liquid isclosed by its valve.

14. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit fora lighter liquid, communicating with theupper end of said tank, a valve,for 010s ing each of said conduits, a float for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing said floats,said upper chamber hein open at the upper end thereof and provided atthe closed lower end thereof with a passage of a reduced size, incommunication therewith, said passage terminating in an outwardlyopening check valve, whereby the heavier liquid may reach above the openend of said upper chamber before the conduit of said lighter liquid is.

closed by its valve.

' 15. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit fora lighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, avalve, for closing each of said conduits, a float, for actuating each ofsaid valves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing saidfloats, one or more of said chambers being secured to said heavierliquid conduit, thereby supporting said chambers in position, one ormore. of said chambers having thereon guides'for sa idfloats, and saidheavier liquid conduit extending through one or more of said chambers,to assist in guiding said floats therein.

16. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a Cullduit fora lighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, avalve, for closlng each of said conduits, a float, for actuating each ofsaid valves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber for enclosing saidfloats, one or more of said floats comprising a hollow main body ofglass, a cap, cemented to said body and a means on said cap forconnecting the same to a valve, for actuating the same.

17.- In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit fora lighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of the tank, a valve,for closing each of said conduits, a float, for actuating each of saidvalves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing said floats,and a means on one or more of said chambers to permit one of saidliquids to pass the remote end of the float chamber, controlling theadmission of the'other liquid, before the conduit of the latter liquid iclosed, thereby utilizing to a greater exten the capacity of said-tank.

18. In a liquid storing and dispensing apparatus a tank, a heavierliquid conduit, communicating with the lower end thereof, a conduit fora lighter liquid, communicating with the upper end of said tank, avalve, for closing each of said conduits, a float, for actuat ing eachof said valves, an upper chamber and a lower chamber, for enclosing saidfloats, said upper chamber being open at the upper end thereof andprovided at the closed lower end thereof with an outwardly opening checkvalve, and said lower chamber being open at the lower end thereof andprovided at the upper end thereof with a means for preventing the inrushof liquid thereinto and permitting the outflow of liquid therefrom.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ERNST HURLBRINK.

